If You Need Anything, Come to Me

Natasha's words were a little disjointed.

It was clear that her emotions were still unstable after just recovering her memories.

Especially since Leon had just saved her, yet she had repaid his kindness by attacking him viciously.

It had stirred up memories she had buried deep within herself, leaving her ashamed and uneasy.

"Don't worry about it." Leon waved it off. "You didn't mean to do it, and besides, you couldn't hurt me."

Natasha clenched her palm, suddenly recalling how the man before her had subdued her without giving her the slightest chance to fight back.

She probably would never forget that overwhelming power and flawless skill.

She subconsciously surveyed her surroundings from the corner of her eye, trying hard to calm herself.

"Thank you." Natasha discreetly glanced over Leon's body, then shook her head and thanked him again. "Thank you for saving me, and thank you for not holding my offense just now against me."

Leon was about to say something, but Natasha continued without pause.

"Perhaps it was just a small effort to you, but it means everything to me..."

Natasha looked utterly sincere.

She climbed down from the workbench and looked at Leon.

"You gave me a second life, Mr. Stark."

"And not just me." Natasha's expression turned solemn. "The other Widows too. We all owe you our lives!"

The agents trained by the Red Room were called Widows.

The best among them, those capable of breaking the highest records set by their predecessors, were given the title of Black Widow.

It was the name of one of the most merciless and venomous spiders in the world.

The agents granted that title were the same.

"A life-saving debt can never truly be repaid."

"If there's ever anything you need help with, just ask." Natasha spoke earnestly. "I'll definitely do everything in my power."

She gently caressed Leon's cheek, her warm breath brushing against his strong jawline.

"But please forgive me. I have to leave now."

Her expression became conflicted, filled with reluctance and pain.

"If I stay out of contact with the Red Room for too long, they'll come after me."

"I can't drag you down. There are other people who need me to save them too."

Natasha was nothing if not decisive. The moment she regained consciousness, she had already begun planning her revenge against the Red Room.

Determination flashed through her eyes. She suddenly rose onto her toes and gently kissed Leon's cheek.

"Thank you, Leon." Her voice was so soft, like cotton scattered by the wind, like a lover saying farewell while holding back an ocean of affection.

After the kiss, she slowly took one step back after another, her jade-like eyes fixed on Leon.

It was as though she were a princess from a fairy tale, awakened from her slumber by a prince's kiss, yet forced to face a wicked queen alone.

After retreating five meters, she spun around sharply, leaving behind a proud and lonely silhouette.

That figure was so solitary and resolute that it vividly conveyed Natasha's willingness to sacrifice herself bravely for her companions and rush into the flames for her savior.

Leon looked at Natasha and touched his cheek. His reflection in the laboratory glass seemed stunned and dazed, like an innocent young man who had suddenly fallen in love.

"Wait, Natasha!" he suddenly called out.

Natasha's resolute figure paused. She turned her head slightly, revealing half of a sorrowful profile.

"Sorry, Leon, but I have to go!"

"No, what I mean is, we're not that close yet. Calling me Mr. Stark is perfectly appropriate." Leon sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Then he muttered under his breath, "That rotten fish smell is really intense..."

This time, Natasha froze completely, standing there like a wooden statue.

Only after several seconds did she turn back around, her expression hesitant. "Call you... Mr. Stark?"

Apparently, she had not heard Leon's complaint about her body odor.

"That's right!" Leon leaned back against the workbench. "Natasha Romanoff, born in 1984, the most outstanding Black Widow trained by the Red Room. You have dozens of backup identities around the world. You're a master of solo combat and psychological warfare."

"Being suddenly addressed by name and then given a farewell kiss by a world-class agent like you really is more than I can handle."

"I have to say, though, it was a pretty good seduction technique."

Leon teased, "I was this close to rushing over, hugging you, and saying I'd brave any mountain of blades or sea of flames with you."

Natasha's gaze changed.

She realized that he had seen through her little scheme.

The hesitation on her face gradually faded. "Wow. I never expected the most mediocre second son of the Stark family in the files to be hiding himself so well. Are you a CIA agent?"

"Come on, it's the internet age. I have the home AI you mentioned. A lot of information is easy to find."

"And what do you mean, the most mediocre? I got into Columbia University, you know."

Leon paused, then spread his hands. "Look, Natasha, I know about your past."

"And I'm not some rich young master who still fantasizes about fairy tales after becoming an adult."

"So there's really no need for that playing-hard-to-get routine."

"Though it looked like you were just putting on a casual performance and didn't put much effort into it."

"But can we talk more simply?" Leon stood up and beckoned to U, asking for two cups of coffee.

He handed one of the coffees to Natasha. "Have something warm. When was the last time you consciously drank coffee? Don't tell me it was ten years ago."

"Ha..." Natasha showed no embarrassment at all. She accepted the coffee with a natural smile. "Thank you. The last time I drank coffee like this was a year and a half ago."

Leon raised his brows. "So you were completely controlled by the Red Room over a year ago?"

"You seem to know quite a lot, Young Master Leon." Natasha walked to Leon's side and leaned against the workbench beside him. Tilting her head back slightly to look at him, she appeared petite and gentle.

She was using another little trick to seduce Leon.

"Don't do that. Is it a habit of yours to use seduction to extract information from people?"

Leon pointed at the coffee cup. "If you have questions, you can just ask them directly. It'll save us a lot of testing and probing."

Natasha truly was a beauty among beauties.

Now in her mid-twenties, every movement she made carried natural charm. Every frown and smile could captivate the soul.

But Leon had just seen Natasha's viscous blood, her internal organs, and her red-and-white brain. He had also smelled the stench she carried from crawling out of the sewers.

So for the time being, he had no desire for any improper thoughts.

"I never thought that the younger brother of America's most famous playboy, Young Master Leon, would be such a gentleman." Natasha put away her alluring smile, her expression becoming much more serious.

As a master of psychology, she understood better than anyone how to cater to someone's preferences.

Leon wanted an efficient exchange of information right now, and she was more than happy to oblige.

"That might not be true. It's just that the timing isn't right. You can try it in a different setting next time. I'll definitely fall for it."

Leon took two sips of coffee. "Oh, and don't put on another act like that innocent young girl saying farewell just now. Only naive rich kids would fall for that kind of story. I suggest that when you make a move on me, you just put on black stockings. That would be more effective."

"Not bad advice. I'll definitely try it next time." Natasha nodded. "Then, Young Master Stark, why do you know so much about me?"

She added, "Don't tell me your AI found it. Most of that information is classified on paper and isn't online."

"I see." Leon crossed his hands into an X. "Then sorry, but I can't tell you about that. It's a secret."

Natasha tilted her head. "This is what you meant by asking directly?"

"Letting you ask doesn't mean I have to answer."

Leon answered with a question of his own.

"Before you ask me anything, I have a question too. Is that really how you treat someone who saved your life?"

He raised a finger. "First, you attacked me the moment you woke up... Oh, that was an accident. And afterward, you did sincerely thank and apologize to me."

"But after remembering our previous fight, you immediately started trying to seduce me again."

"You wanted me to offer to help you deal with the Red Room, didn't you?"

"The worst part was that after turning around, you secretly watched my reaction through the glass reflection."

"What, I just saved you, and you had just said you would thank me. Then you turned around and wanted to drag me into a dragon's den and tiger's lair?"

Leon slapped his thigh. "The contrast before and after is so huge that I feel like a complete sucker!"

"I apologize!" Natasha raised both hands. "I apologize again. It was my fault to treat you like an ordinary rich second-generation heir and try to use you."

"It was also my fault to try to drag you into this!"

"I'm sorry. I had only just regained consciousness, and I wanted to find an ally who made me feel safe."

A hint of pitiful vulnerability appeared on Natasha's face.

"After all, you're so strong, and you're a genius with a high IQ. With your help, I'd have a better chance of winning."

"But I promise that if you had really chosen to help me just now, I would have told you all the real information! Though it seems you don't need it."

"And my previous promise was genuine. If you ever run into trouble in the future, you can come to me with any request—as long as I'm still alive."

Leon stroked his chin. "Can I come to you for certain indescribable things too?"

"Yes! If it's you, I can accept it!" After a brief moment of conflict, Natasha's eyes became extremely resolute. She was serious.